Electrical switch



Now7 l5, 1932. w. E. CHURCHER ELECTRICAL SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet FiledJune 19., 1926 3.926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY a www...

Nm., 15 31932, w. B. cHURca-ER ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed June 19.

Not8 i982.. W. B. CHURCHR Y 1,887,883

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed June 19, 1926 v 3 Sheets-Sheet TTORNEY PatentedNov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM B. CHURCHER, OFCLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE WHITE MOTOR COMPANY ELECTRICAL SWITCHApplication led June 19, 1926. Serial No. 117,140.

My invention relates to electrical switches and relates particularly tomanually operable electrical switches as distinguished from au toniaticswitches, and which are usually electro-magnetically operated.

The manually operable electrical switches commonly employed torcontrolling the electrical circuits installed on automotive vehicles',such as motor busses, trucks, and the like, have been commonly ot anumber of different designs, depending upon the nature of the electricalcircuit comprising such switch, For instance, it is common to provideone type ot electrical switch to control the ignition circuit, anotherswitch for controlling the circuit of the electric starter for thevehicle engine, and still other switches for controlling the light-ingcircuits. From the standpoint of the manufacture of the electricalequipment going into the vehicles, this practice has resulted in thenecessity of manufacturing an exceedinglyY great number of switch partsassembled together to formf different kinds ot' switches, and hasresulted in the further requirement that supplies of switch parts beprovided at service stations, and has generally resulted in a lack ofeconomy in manufacturing the switches and servicing the vehicles uponwhich they are'installed. Not only this, there is also a lack ot economyin the installation of the switches on the vehicle, since differentkinds of mountings are required tor the diii'erent kinds of switches.Again, where a switch having a certain contact arrangement is onceinstalled, whenever a switch having a different contact arrangement isrequired in its place, the first switch may be removed together with itscharacteristic mounting and another switch and mounting ot diticrcnttype installed in its place. Sometimes this is highly inconvenient. andrequires the use of special adapters for facilitating the mounting ofthe dierent switch type.

An object of my invention therefore, is to accomplish uniformity inswitch mountings for the different functional purposes required by thenature of the different kinds of electrical circuits had upon theautomotive vehicle.

Another object of my invention is to accomplish standardization ofoperating parts o the switches so that the same parts may be employed bythe switches which control circuits of widely differing character.

Another object of my invention is to provide switch apparatus which maybe easily assembled together in various combinations L to accomplishvarying switching functions as is desirable to meet the requirements ofparticular circuit conditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide switches of the abovecharacter in which the contact combinations may be altered afterinstallation of the switch but without requiring a new switch in toto.

Other objects of my invention comprising the elimination ot the abovenamed disadvantages had in existing switch apparatus, and other objects,and the invention itself, will become more apparent as the followingdescription of an embodiment of my invention progresses in whichdescription reference- Will be had to the accompanying drawings forminga part of this specification.

In the drawings;

Fig. l shows a switch, largely in longitudinal medial section, embodyingmy invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the switch of ll`igs.1,? ,4L and 5;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the switch of Fig. l modified to secure adifferent Contact characteristic Fig. i shows, largely in longitudinalmedial section, the switch of l with a different electrical Contactcharacteristic.

Fig. 5 shows the switch modified to have still other contactcharacteristics;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the switch ot Figs. 13, 14 and l5;

Fig. 7 shows the switch modified to have still other contactcharacteristics with four radially disposed springs;

Fig. 8 shows the switch of Fig. with tour contact springs as in Fig. 7,but with a different relative positioning of its parts;

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of Figs. 7, 8 and 10;

Fig. l0 is a view of the switch having a different electrical contactcharacteristic and with four contact springs radially disposed;

Figs. 11 and 12 show switches having different electrical contactcharacteristics and in which arotation of the handle will accomplishadditional switching function;

Fig. 12-A is a view of the switch 11, taken on the line 12-12 of Fig.11; Fi 13 to 20, inclusive, are similar to Fig. 1, di erent electricalcontact characteristics being illustrated, one contact spring of eachbeing shown displaced from its actual position; and

Figs. 21 to 41, inclusive are views, some being shown partly in section,of the different parts which enter into the make-up of the differentswitch combinations above illustrated.

Referring now to the different figures of drawings, in all of which likeparts are designated by like reference characters, and referring firstto Fig. 1, wherein I illustrate a switch of the plunger type adaptablefor use in an electrical circuit, such as the circuit controlling themagneto electrical system of an automotive engine, its function being toshunt circuit and to remove a shunt circuit from the magneto terminals,the switch being self-sustaining or locking in its two differentoperative positions. In referring to this and the other figures,reference may be had to the views of the parts entering into the switchassembly illustrated, each, per se, in one of the figuresof Figs. 21 to40, inclusive.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, at 1, I show a support for theswitch which may be the dash board of an automotive vehicle, such as amotor bus, and which board may have a metallic facing 2, beingperforated likewise at 3, to effect the mounting of the switch mechanismto be described on the dash or instrumentboard, as the portion of thedash upon which these switches are mounted is sometimes called. Theswitch proper comprises four primary parts, these being now briefiydesignated as a supporting mount 30, an operating rod 4 provided with ahandle 5, movable electrical contact pieces, one being shown at 117,Fig. 1, and switch contact springs, as illustrated at 7 and 8 therein.The mount is carried by the instrument board, being rigidly7 securedthereto by virtue of clamping nuts 10 and 11 and intermedially disposedwashers 12 and 13, the mount carrying at its flanged end an insulatingplate 13, between a shoulder formed bv an end face of the mount flange15 and the headed end flange portion 16. of the reduced end 17, of themount disposed between the flanges 15 and 16: the insulating plate 14being centrally perforated and fitted over the portion 17 of the mountand secured in place by the forming of the fiange 16 by expandinglyheading over the outer edge thereof. The mount 30, has a central borethrough which the vrod 4 may aXialy be reciprocated and which looselyfits within the bore. The

handle 5 has a flanged head 18 and a stem portion 19, the end of whichis adapted to engage withthe end face of the clamping nut 10, which issuitably enlarged and formed to form a stop for the handle when thehandle is pushed inwardly to operate the switch.

The rod 4 is reduced in diameter in its end portion 20, thus providing ashoulder 21 at the junction of the reduced end with the larger rodportion. The springs, such as 7 and 8, and such as 22 and 23, Figs. 8and 10, especially, are carried on the insulating plate 14, each of thesprings being secured to the insulating plate by screws, or, asillustrated, by rivets 24, the springs being disposed 90o apart on theannular plate 14, with their contact ends 25 extending inwardly,resiliently, toward the longitudinal axis of the reduced end 20 of theoperating rod 4. A terminal 26 is provided for each contact spring and abinding post electrical connecting screw 27 is screw threaded throughthe terminal 26 for each spring for the purpose of making electricalcontact between circuit conductors and the different contact springs.The reduced end 20 of the rod 4 is threaded, as shown, at 28, clampingnuts 29 being adapted to be threaded onto the threads thereof to clampone or more of the tubular elements illustrated in Figs. 25 to 39,inclusive, these being telescoped over the reduced end 2O of the rod, anend 1, resting against the shoulder 21 thereof, and an opposite end 1,coming into contact with the inner face of the inner clamping nuts 29,whereby the interposed tubular elements of the specified figures aresecurely clamped in positions on the rod in the desired way requisiteforfaccomplishing different electrical contact functions. At is shown atubular insulator collar having a flanged outer end against which theclamping nuts 29 abut in retaining the tubular elements, referred to onthe reduced end 20, of the operating rod 4.

The switches illustrated in Figs. 1 to 20, inclusive, comprising varyingarrangements of cooperative contact springs, which are illustrated asbeing two in number in some cases, such as Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,other cases are illustrated as comprising additional springs 22, and/or23. Figs. 7 and 13 or a. different case is illustrated comprising othersprings 70, 80, 90 and 100, Figs. 11 and 12. are, bv such variations,adapted to accomplish different switching functions.

For instance, Fig. 1 is adaptable for use to control a magneto ignitioncircuit of an automotive vehicle, the plunger rod 4 having locking onand off positions, wherein the contact springs 7 and 8 are insulatedeach from the other and from the rod 4 in one position, and wherein thesprings and rod are interconnected in the other position. Fig. 3likewise contains an insulating tubular element 129, Fig. 28, and ametallic tubular element 117, preferably exactly like that of thecontact element 129, except for its electrical conducting propertiesresulting from its different composition, the two tubular elements arein transposed positions on the rod. With this exception, the switches ofthe other figures will be more readily understood, some oit them, likeFigure 4, being provided with a spring 31 constantly exerting an effortsufficient to restore the switch parts to the positions illustrated inFig. 4, and in which normal position the contact springs 7 and 8 arealone insulated, each from the other and from the rod, and other of theswitches, Fig. 13, comprising a shorter spring 32 interposed between anend tubular insulator element` such as 118, and the flange 16. In Fig.7, the spring 32 is only effective after the rod 4 has been withdrawn toa predetermined amount. An annular flanged insulator ring 76, isinserted'over the reduced portion 20 of the rod 4 over which is placed ametallic cylindrical contact member 28 abutting against the insulatormember 118.

Fig. 4 illustrates a switch adapted to close a circuit in the circuit ofthe starting relay for an electrical starting motor for an automotiveengine, being automatically reciprocable by virtue of the compression of`the spring 31 to relay releasing position, as illustrated. Fig. 5illustrates the varying switch position of the switch of Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to Fig. 7, the mounting of which is similar inconstruction to the mounting illustrated in the foregoing figures,except that the switch illustrated in Fig. 7 is provided with a shortcoil spring 32 coiled about the operating rod 4 and interposed betweenthe reduced upset portion 16 of the mounting 30 and a tubular 'insulatorelement 118. Also the contact and insulator portion carried by theoperating rod are different and comprise a metallic contact cylindricalmember 77 and 78, a cylindrical insulator member 79, insulator bushing81 and an an-.

nularly flanged insulator member 76, the latter of which having acylindrical extension over which the contact metallic element 78 isplaced, all of which are retained contiguous to each other asillustrated, by the clamping nuts 29. Additional spring contact arms,such as 28, are employed.

Fig. 9 illustrates an end elevation of my switch illustrated in Figs. 7,8 and 10, wherein I employ four contact spring arms 7, 8, 2i' and 23;'Ihe same insulator plate 14, employed in the other embodiments of my.invention is also employed in this embodiment. Elongated slots 62 andholes 42 are provided in the plate adjacent the periphery thereof forthe reception ot rivets 24 and 423, by which the binding terminal andthe spring contact arms 7, 8, and 23 are secured to the insulator plate14m any of the desired posi- V tions, depending upon the number ofbinding forming the same functions in connection with a magneto ignitionand starting relay circuits, the magneto ignition circuit to beoperative, requiring that the springs 7 and 8, or at least one ot them,rest against an insulating contact tube, as illustrated, during startingand intermediate switch positions.

The switch of Figs. 11, 12 and 12-A, having a special rotative operativemovement, will require some additional explanation than that had in theforegoing. This switch comprises a metallic contact segment peripherallydisposed, illustrated at 112, and embraced in part by an insulatingportion 56, from between the ends of which the metallic portion projectsforming a flattened insulating contact cylinder portion. This insulatingcontact portion is provided for the purpose of insulating the contactorarmature spring 70 from electrical circuit with the rod 4, and

in this position from contact with the metal Contact member 64 which isplaced over the cylindrical poi-tion or the insulator member 75, whichin turn is inserted over the end of the rod 20, the inner end of whichabuts against an insulating washer 33 inserted between the portions 56and 64 and retained in assembled position by the clamping nuts29.However, when the handle 18 is revolved 9G degrees, so that the armaturespring 7 0 is in contact with either thespring 80 or 90, an electricalconnection will be established through the metallic contact 112, the onecontact spring' 80, being for the purpose of conducting current toeitect, for instance, the bright or far ahead lighting of a lilainent,and the contact spring 90, for instance. is adaptable te conduct currentto a filament for the dim or near by lighting function. These springsmay beconnected, respectively, to the two filaments provided in atilt-ray headlight lamp bulb to selectively eliect the operation of theone or the other of the filaments.

Fig. 12-A comprises four contact springs 70, 80, 90 and 100, the contactspring 70, being used as the intermediate or armature spring and whenresting against the flattened surface ot the metallic portion 56, isfully insulated from the contact springs 8O and/oi" 90, being in thenormal off position and being independent of thelongitudinal positiontaken by the switch contact 112 by a reciprocatory aXial movement of therod 4.

. Fig. 12 illustrates Fig. 11 in its pulled out lam and/or other lampsof this nature.

Fig. 13 illustrates a switch adapted to have its contact spring 23 inthe starting relay circuit, make contact with a metallic tubular elementof a form similar to the insulating element, Fig. 26, when the switchhandle is in full withdrawn position, Fig. 15, and which will restore toan intermediate position, Fig. 14, lwherein both the springs 7 and 8make contact with the intermediate metallic contact piece 120, thecurved tip 37of the spring 7 resting within the groove 36 of the contactpiece 120 to insure that a battery igntion circuit may he closed throughthe spring 7 when the switch is in its starting and also in itsintermediate position.

Referring to Fig. 13,\vherein acoiled spring 32 is elnploycd and adaptedto be coiled about the reduced portion 20, and the operating rod 4; thisspring 32 remains free in the intermediate and oli' positions and isonly compressed against the insulator tubular element 118 when in thestarting position, snapping back to intermediate position again as thehandle 18 is released.

A metallic tubular contact element 120 having an annular groove 36, therod 20 and insulated therefrom by the insulator bushing 81, an insulatortubular element 83, and metallic contact tubular element 78 are thentelescoped over the rod 20 and retained thereon by virtue of theclamping nuts 29. Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate a switch capable ofperforming the functions of the switch of Fig. 13 in various contactingpositions.

In Fig. 16, I have reversed the order of the various tubular contact endinsulator elements. The metallic contact` element 120 is first placed onthe rod 20 followed by the in sulator elements 118 and 83, the metalliccontact element 78 being applied lastly all retained in the positionillustrated by the clamping nuts 29.

Fig. 17 illustrates a switch comprising preferably three contact springarms 7, 8 and 23, and tubular elements such as the tubular insulatingelement 83, metallic contact piece 122 telescoped over the reducedportion 86 of an insulator piece 87, is capable of being set to anintermediate and two opposite eX- treme positions, the same beingadaptable for use in connection with the headlight circuits of anautomobile, wherein connection is made through the tubular metalliccontact piece, such as the one illustrated at 122 from a spring 22 toeither a spring 8 or 23, the springs 8 or 23 each leading to theheadlight filaments, the one contact spring 8 being for the purpose ofconducting current to eect, for instance, the bright or far-aheadlighting of a filament, and the contact spring 23, for instance,adaptable to convey current to a iilament for the dim or near-bylighting function. These springs may be connected, respectively, to thetwo filaments provided in a tilt-raynheadlight lamp bulb to selectivelyeffect the operation of the one or the other of the filaments.

Fig. 18 illustrates a dilferent operative p osition for closingdifferent electric circuits from that of Fig. 17.

Figs. 19 and 20 differ from Figs. 17 and 18 in that the metallic tubularcontact element 123 differs from contact element 122 being provided withan annular projection 51 over which the contact spring arms snap and 1salso slightly thicker tha'n the same.

By referring to the different figures illustrating the tubular elements,Fig. 21 shows the mount assembly comprising the tubular mount v30, theinsulating disk 14, washer 12, clamping -nutslO and 11, and washer 12,clamping nuts 10 and 11, and washer 13, all in axial alignment.

The tubular elelnents, illustrated in- Figs. 25 to 39, inclusive, may beas illustrated for each of insulating or metallic material, and it is tobe understood that according to the requirements of the switchingfunction to be performed, the composition of these tubular elementswould depend, so as to make them insulating or electrical currentconducting. Some of these are provided with annular projections 51, andflanges 151, which the contact portion 37 of the springs may override,and others have peripheral grooves 52 adapted to center the plunger rodby the pressure of the contact portion 37 of the spring iitting into thegrooves. The functions of these elements will be readily understood byreference to the above description and the drawings illustrating thedifferent switches.

Fig. 22 is a view of the insulating plate having a central opening 41,and a series of circular perforations 42 and elongated perforations 62arranged in a circle about the central opening, being in pairs suitablefor the reception of the rivets 43, which pass through the springs, suchas shown at 7 and 8, the terminals 26 and the plate 13. The

are as illustrated at 7 ,l Fig. 24, wherein the.

spring is shown as comprising an angularly disposed base 40 centrallyperforated at 46 n.. ad

and having projecting end flanges 48 and a spring portion. The springportion has its end transversely curved to form a contact portion 37.

It is to be noted that preferably in all switch constructions, I soarrange the springs that the deflecting efforts exerted thereby upon therod 4l will be balanced,i. e., a deflecting effort exerted by one ormore of the springs in a given direction will be opposed by an equal andopposite deflecting effort by one or more other springs. Thus in Figs.8, 9 and 10, I show two long and two short springs, each spring of apair being equal in length and arranged oppositely to the other springof the pair, and in Figs. 6 and 13, where three springs are used, thethickness of the springs will be so chosen relative to their lengthsthat from each of the three directions there will be exerted toward theaxis of the rod 4 a deliecting effort equal to the deflecting effort ofeach of the other springs.

TWhile I may depart from this preferred construction, I find that by sobalancing the deflecting effort of each spring, the switch will becapable of being reciprocated with a minimum of effort, since thefriction in the bearings thereof will be minimized and since alsounequal wear would take place on one or the other side of the bearingswere the arrangement an unbalanced one.

Having thus described my invention in certain embodiments, I am awarethat numerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodimentsherein illustrated and described but without departing from the spiritof my invention.

I claim:

1. In an electric switch construction, a support, a face plate providedwith a central perforation secured to the support, a plungerreciprocatively mounted in the support and extending through theperforation, a handle at one end of the plunger for reciprocativelymoving it, an electric switch element provided with conducting surfacesand insulating surfaces supported on the rod and reciprocable therewith,the faceplate being provided with a plurality of pairs of primary andsecondary perforations, the primary perforations being disposed in acircle around the central perforation, the secondary pferforations alsobeing disposed in a circle around the central perforation, said pairs ofperforations being positionally distributed on the face plate to provideeven numbers and odd numbers of said pairs of perforations symmetricallydisposed around said central perforation, a plurality of resilientelectric contacts each supported at a portion thereof on the face plateand at a free portion thereof adapted to resilientlysuccessively engagethe conducting and insulating surfaces of the switch element when thesame is reciprocated, means for effecting rigid association of thecontacts with the face plate comprising a pair of spaced bindingelements associated with each contact and extending into a correspondingpair of said perforations in the face plate to prevent movement of theunsupported end of each contact relative to the face plate in directionstransversely of the plunger or rotat'ably about either binding elementof the palr.

2. In an electric switch construction, a support, a face plate providedwith a central perforation secured to the support, a plungerreciprocatively mounted in the support and extending through theperforation, a handle at one end of the plunger for reciprocativelymoving it, an electric switch element provided with conducting surfacesand insulating surfaces supported on the rod an-d reciprocabletherewith, the face plate being provided with a plurality of pairs ofprimary and .condary perforations, the primary perfo '3ations beingdisposed in a circle around the central perforation, the secondaryperforations also being disposed in a circle around the centralperforation, said pairs of perforations being positionally distributedon the face plate to provide even numbers and odd numbers of said pairsof perforations symmetrically disposed around said central perforation,a plurality of resilient electric contacts each supported at a portionthereof on the face plate and at a free portion thereof adapted toresiliently successively engage the conducting and insulating surfacesof the switch element when the same. is reciprocated, means foreffecting rigid support of each contact on the face plate comprising apair of rivets associated with each contact and eX- tending through acorresponding pair of said perforations in the face plate to preventshifting of the contacts on the face plate in directions transverselv ofthe plunger or rotatably about either of the rivets of the pair.

3. In an electrical switch` a plunger rod therefor having a handle knobat one end. its other end being threaded. said rod being of reduceddiameter in its portion adiacent the threaded end to provide anintermediate shoulder, an apertured face plate through the aperture ofwhich the rod is adapted to reciprocate, electrical contact springssupported on the side of the face plate opposite the knob and havingcontact portions at their free ends which are disposed adjacent the rod,a plurality of differently formed annular elements comprising electriccurrent conducting and electrical insulating elements adapted to beplaced over the threaded end of the rod in aXial alignment with theirperipheral portions engageable with the contact porone of said elementscomprising a pair of segments, one of said segments being an insulatingsegment, the other segment being a current conducting segment, saidelements comprising an insulating element disposed longitudinally of thesaid composite segmental element.

4. In anelectrical switch, a plunger rod. therefor having a handle knobat one end', contact elements carried on the other end of the rod andcontact springs engageable with the lateral surfaces of the saidelements, insulating elements disposed intermediate the contactelements, said contact elements and said insulating elements being sodisposed longitudinally and circumferentially of the rod, relative tosaid contact springs, as to be separably engageable by at least one ofsaid springs upon longitudinal and/or rotative .1 movement of theplunger rod, a transverse face plate provided with a perforation throughwhich the rod exten-ds 'and the contact springs being mounted thereonand eX- tending therefrom in the direction opposite to the handle knob.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature this 4th day of June,1926.

WILLIAM B. CHURCHER.

